Physical activity, sedentary time and sleep duration: associations with body composition in 10-12-year-old Estonian schoolchildren

Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between the 24-hour movement behaviours, including muscle and bone strengthening activity, with bone and lean mass from childhood to adolescence

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to assess whether moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), sport and exercise as a proxy measure of muscle and bone strengthening activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep were associated with total-body-less-head (TBLH) bone mineral content (BMC) and TBLH lean mass cross-sectionally and longitudinally from age 6 to 9 years and age 9 to 11 years to age 15 to 17 years.

METHODS

We used longitudinal data from a population sample of Finnish children from the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children study (age 6 to 9 years: n = 478, 229 females; age 9 to 11 years: n = 384, 197 females; age 15 to 17 years: n = 222, 103 females). Linear regression analysed the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between accelerometer-assessed MVPA, sedentary time and sleep, and questionnaire-assessed sport and exercise participation and screen time with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry-assessed TBLH BMC and lean mass.

RESULTS

In females, MVPA at age 6 to 9 years was positively associated with TBLH BMC at age 15 to 17 years (β = 0.008, p = 0.010). Sport and exercise at age 9 to 11 years was positively associated with TBLH BMC (β = 0.020, p = 0.002) and lean mass (β = 0.343, p = 0.040) at age 15 to 17 years. MVPA at age 9 to 11 years was positively associated with TBLH lean mass (β = 0.272, p = 0.004) at age 15 to 17 years. In males, sleep at age 6 to 9 years was positively associated with TBLH lean mass (β = 0.382, p = 0.003) at age 15 to 17 years. Sport and exercise at age 9 to 11 years was positively associated with TBLH BMC (β = 0.027, p = 0.012) and lean mass (β = 0.721, p < 0.001) at age 15 to 17 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Promoting engagement in the 24-hour movement behaviours in childhood, particularly sport and exercise to strengthen muscle and bone, is important in supporting bone and lean mass development in adolescence.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT01803776; first trial registration date: 04/03/2013.

Relationship of 24-Hour Movement Behaviors with Weight Status and Body Composition in Chinese Primary School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

24 h movement behaviors, specifically physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and sleep, play a crucial role in the prevention and intervention of childhood obesity. This study aimed to examine the association of 24 h movement behaviors with weight status and body composition among Chinese primary school children. Using a random stratified sampling, 978 eligible participants (9.1 ± 1.4 years, 53.2% boys) were recruited from 1 May to 15 July 2021. Demographics included children's age, gender, grade, parents' education level, and household income. Movement behaviors were measured by validated self-reported scales. Weight status and body composition (percent of body fat, PBF; fat-free mass, FFM; skeletal muscle mass, SMM) were measured objectively. Results indicated that participants who were younger, boys, and at lower grade showed higher guidelines adherence. PA was inversely associated with PBF, while screen time (ST) was positively associated with overweight/obesity risk and FFM. Sleep showed no association with any health indicators. Meeting the behavioral guidelines was associated with better weight status and lower PBF, yet not with FFM and SMM. Interventions to improve the Children's weight status and PBF should involve enhancing their overall movement behaviors and considering their demographic differences. More research on examining the association of movement guidelines adherence with body composition indicators is needed.

Development of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Children in the Transition From Kindergarten to Basic School According to Participation in Organized Sports

Purpose: This study examined the development of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in children in the transition from kindergarten to basic school according to participation in organized sports and estimated the associations of CRF and body composition indices during the transition from childhood to preadolescence.

Methods: Children participated in the three-staged study (kindergarten, 6.6 years, n = 212; 1st grade, 7.6 years, n = 136; and 5th grade, 11.5 years, n = 142) for 5 years and were categorized into three groups according to their participation in organized sports in the study period (whole period, episodically, and never). Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed by performing a 20-m shuttle run test, while body composition was measured by skinfold thicknesses, and physical activity was registered with an accelerometer. International gender- and age-specific CRF reference normativities were also used to characterize the participants.

Results: Children who participated consistently in organized sports had significantly higher CRF levels and lower body fatness (31.3 ± 13.5 laps in 20 m shuttle run; 21.1% ± 6.3% body fat) in 11.5 years than in children who had never participated in sports clubs (20.7 ± 12.0 laps in 20-m shuttle run; 26.1% ± 6.8% body fat). Body composition and CRF did not associate in consistently trained children. The proportion of 5th grade children demonstrating age-appropriate healthy CRF was almost threefold higher in the group of consistent sports training among both boys and girls than among non-members of sports clubs.

Conclusion: Consistent attendance in organized sports in childhood and early preadolescence ensures higher CRF and healthier body composition than in children who had no experience of organized sports.

A lifestyle pattern during adolescence is associated with cardiovascular risk markers in young adults: results from the DONALD cohort study

Lifestyle score approaches combining individual lifestyle factors, e.g. favourable diet, physical activity or normal body weight, showed inverse associations with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, research mainly focussed on adult behaviour and is scarce for vulnerable time windows for adult health like adolescence. We investigated associations between an adolescent lifestyle score and CVD risk markers in young adulthood. Overall, we analysed 270 participants of the open DONALD cohort study with 1–6 complete measurements of five lifestyle factors (healthy diet, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep duration and BMI standard deviation score) during adolescence (females: 8⋅5–15⋅5 years and males: 9⋅5–16⋅5 years). Multivariable linear regression models were used to investigate the prospective association between the adolescent lifestyle score (0–5 points) and CVD risk markers in young adulthood (18–30 years). On average, participants obtained a mean adolescent lifestyle score of 2⋅9 (0–5) points. Inverse associations between the adolescent lifestyle score and waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio and percentage of body fat were observed (4⋅1, 4⋅1 and 9⋅2 % decrease per 1 point increase in adolescent lifestyle score, respectively, P < 0⋅05). For the remaining CVD risk markers (glucose, blood lipids, blood pressure and a proinflammatory score), no associations were observed. A healthy adolescent lifestyle is particularly associated with CVD risk-related favourable anthropometric markers in adulthood. A more comprehensive understanding of lifestyle patterns in the life course might enable earlier, targeted preventive measures to assist vulnerable groups in prevention of chronic diseases.

Is School Gardening Combined with Physical Activity Intervention Effective for Improving Childhood Obesity? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

School gardening activities (SGA) combined with physical activities (PA) may improve childhood dietary intake and prevent overweight and obesity. This study aims to evaluate the effect of SGA combined with PA on children’s dietary intake and anthropometric outcomes. We searched studies containing randomized controlled trials up to January 2021 in Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and the EBSCO database on this topic for children aged 7 to 12 years. Fourteen studies met the requirements for meta-analysis (n = 9187). We found that SGA has no obvious effect on improving children’s BMI (WMD = −0.49; p = 0.085; I² = 86.3%), BMI z-score (WMD = −0.12; p = 0.235; I² = 63.0%), and WC (WMD = −0.98; p = 0.05; I² = 72.9%). SGA can effectively improve children’s FVs (WMD = 0.59, p = 0.003, I² = 95.3%). SGA combined with PA can significantly increase children’s FVs but cannot greatly improve weight status. Although more studies on this topic are needed to prove the effectiveness of this method, the results of our review show that both SGA and SGA combined with PA has a modest but positive impact of reducing BMI and WC outcomes but can significantly increase children’s FVs.

Physical Activity, Fitness, and Cognitive Performance of Estonian First-Grade Schoolchildren According Their MVPA Level in Kindergarten: A Longitudinal Study

Little is known about the longitudinal trajectories and associations regarding physical activity (PA), physical fitness (PF), and cognitive skills in childhood. Accelerometer-based PA, sedentary behavior (SB), PF, and cognitive skills were measured in Estonian children (n = 147) in kindergarten (6.6 years) and again at school (7.6 years). Children were subgrouped into lower and upper quartiles by their moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) at 6.6 years. Children in the upper quartile had lower SB, higher PA, and greater muscular strength. Attending school, MVPA in the lower quartile improved. In both subgroups, most strength values and cognitive skills improved, while balance deteriorated in first grade. In the upper quartile, a greater MPA at 6.6 years predicted lower perceptual skills at 7.6 years. A greater SB at 6.6 years predicted higher verbal skills, light and moderate PA and MVPA, and lower verbal skills at 7.6 years after taking into account confounding factors such as the child's sex, age, awake wear time (AWT), maternal education, and/or child's sports participation. A vigorous PA at 6.6 years predicted perceptual (in upper quartile) or verbal (in lower quartile) skills at 7.6 years after controlling for similar confounders. No correlation for PF at 6.6 years and cognitive skills at 7.6 years existed; after adjusting for the above-mentioned confounders relative to upper/lower-limb strength, the 4 × 10 m shuttle run results predicted higher perceptual or verbal skills; static balance and cardiorespiratory fitness predicted lower verbal skills. Cardiorespiratory fitness predicted higher perceptual skills after controlling for sex, age, and AWT. Overall, PA and strength were constantly better and SB lower in the upper quartile, yet the lower quartile demonstrated improved MVPA in first grade, and both subgroups increased most components of their strength and cognitive skills in first grade. Higher levels of VPA at kindergarten predicted either better perceptual or verbal skills in first grade after controlling for confounders; the opposite associations were found for other PA levels and cognitive skills in the higher quartile. PF components at kindergarten predicted either superior or inferior cognitive skills in first grade after adjusting for confounders.

Preschool physical activity and fitness predicts conceptual, verbal and perceptual skills at school

This study investigated longitudinal relationships between physical activity (PA), fitness and cognitive performance at early years. In total, 147 children at the age of 6.6 and 7.6 years participated in the study. PA and sedentary behaviour (SB) were registered with accelerometer. Skinfold thickness measurements were used to assess body composition. Children's cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscular strength and speed-agility fitness was assessed using PREFIT fitness test battery and static balance by EUROFIT test battery. Cognitive skills were measured with modified Boehm-3 test. Linear regression analyses showed that PA at the age of 6.6 years was positively, while SB was negatively associated with the conceptual skills at the age of 7.6 years after adjusting for confounders. Positive associations were observed between CRF, lower-limbs strength relative to fat-free mass, static balance at the age of 6.6 years with perceptual skills at 7.6 years in unadjusted analysis. PA and fitness were not associated with verbal abilities. Physically active lifestyle and CRF, relative explosive strength of the lower limbs, balance at 6.6 years in kindergarten predict conceptual and perceptual skills, but does not predict verbal abilities 1 year later at first grade in school. SB affects negatively conceptual skills.

Physical fitness in preschool children in relation to later body composition at first grade in school

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate whether better physical fitness in kindergarten predicts later healthier body composition in first grade at school.

METHODS

Body composition was assessed by skinfold thickness measurements. Physical fitness tests included 20 m shuttle run test, handgrip strength test, standing long jump test, 4x10 m shuttle run test as part of PREFIT fitness test battery, and one-leg stance test from EUROFIT test battery. The participants of this study were 147 Estonian children (51% boys) aged 6-8 years, who were measured in the transition from kindergarten to school.

RESULTS

After adjusting for maternal body mass index, educational attainment, child's sex, age at the measurements, greater cardiovascular and motor fitness, relative lower body strength, static balance at 6.6 yr were associated with lower fat mass index, fat mass percentage at 12-month follow-up. The relative lower body strength above the median at 6.6 yr were related to lower fat mass index and fat mass percentage at 12-month follow-up, while the static balance test results demonstrated the opposite associations. Improvements in the 4x10 m shuttle run test results during the 12-month follow-up period were associated with the most beneficial changes in body composition status, such as increases in fat-free mass index and decreases in fat mass index, fat mass percentage, waist-to-height ratio after adjusting for maternal body mass index, educational attainment, child's sex, age, at the measurements and baseline values of exposures.

CONCLUSION

Better physical fitness tests results at 6.6 yr in kindergarten generally predicted lower body fat parameters in children at 7.6 yr in first grade at school.

Associations between physical activity, body composition, and physical fitness in the transition from preschool to school

The purpose of the study was to assess the longitudinal associations of physical activity (PA) with body composition and physical fitness (PF) at the 12-month follow-up during the transition from kindergarten to school in Estonian children aged 6 to 8 years (n = 147). PA and sedentary behavior (SB) were assessed using the accelerometer. Body composition was measured from triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses and PF using PREFIT test battery. SB at the mean age of 6.6 year had negative relation with upper and lower body strength and motor fitness at the mean age of 7.6 year in adjusted models. Light PA (LPA) and moderate PA(MPA) at 6.6 year were positively and SB was negatively associated with fat-free mass index (FFMI) at 7.6 year after adjustments for confounders [vigorous PA (VPA), total awake wear time, child's sex, age at measurement]. Substituting 5 min/d of SB at 6.6 year with 5 min of VPA was related to higher FFMI at 7.6 year. In adjusted models, VPA at 6.6 year was positively associated with cardiorespiratory fitness at 7.6 year, greater baseline VPA or moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) predicted greater upper body strength a year later and LPA, MPA, VPA, MVPA at 6.6 year were positively related to lower body strength at follow-up. In adjusted analysis greater VPA at 6.6 year was related to better motor fitness at follow-up. Promoting higher-intensity PA and reducing SB at preschool may have long-term effects on body composition and PF in children at the first grade.

Body Fat Mediates Association between Active Living and Health among Adolescents

The aim of this study was to explore the association of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and organized leisure-time activities with self-rated health among adolescents and whether these associations are mediated by body fat percentage. We used data on 888 adolescents (mean age 12.97, SD 1.20, 56.0% boys) from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study conducted in 2018 in Slovakia. We used logistic regression models to examine associations within self-reported data (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and organized leisure-time activities with self-rated health) and their mediation by anthropometric data (body fat percentage). The adolescents who were sufficiently physically active and with normal body fat were more likely to report good or excellent health (odds ratios-OR/95% confidence intervals-95% CI: 3.52/1.50-8.27 and 3.66/2.37-5.68). Similarly, the adolescents who were engaged in individual/team sport and with normal body fat were more likely to report good or excellent health (OR/95% CI: 2.04/1.31-3.17 and 3.66/2.37-5.68). Adjustment for body fat percentage reduced the association between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and self-rated health by 27.6% and the association between leisure-time activities and self-rated health by 30.7%. Active living and normal body fat might contribute to better health in adolescence. Programs and efforts to increase physical activity and leisure-time activities in childhood and adolescence need to identify which aspects of these activities are important, effective, and crucial for the population of adolescents.

Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of accelerometer measured physical activity levels of school-going children in Kampala city, Uganda

Background

The current international physical activity guidelines for health recommend children to engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) daily. Yet, accurate prevalence estimates of physical activity levels of children are unavailable in many African countries due to the dearth of accelerometer-measured physical activity data. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and examine the socio-demographic correlates of accelerometer-measured physical activity among school-going children in Kampala city, Uganda.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was used to recruit a sample of 10–12 years old school-going children (n = 256) from 7 primary schools (3 public schools and 4 private schools) in Kampala city, Uganda. Sedentary time, light-intensity physical activity (LPA), moderate-intensity physical activity (MPA) and vigorous-intensity physical activity (VPA) were measured by accelerometers (ActiGraph GT3X+ [Pensacola, Florida, USA]) over a seven-day period. Socio-demographic factors were assessed by a parent/guardian questionnaire. Weight status was generated from objectively measured height and weight and computed as body mass index (BMI). Multi-level logistic regressions identified socio-demographic factors that were associated with meeting physical activity guidelines.

Results

Children’s sedentary time was 9.8±2.1 hours/day and MVPA was 56±25.7 minutes/day. Only 36.3% of the children (38.9% boys, 34.3% girls) met the physical activity guidelines. Boys, thin/normal weight and public school children had significantly higher mean daily MVPA levels. Socio-demographic factors associated with odds of meeting physical activity guidelines were younger age (OR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.55–0.84), thin/normal weight status (OR = 4.08; 95% CI = 1.42–11.76), and socioeconomic status (SES) indicators such as lower maternal level of education (OR = 2.43; 95% CI = 1.84–3.21) and no family car (OR = 0.31; 95% CI = 0.17–0.55).

Conclusion

Children spent a substantial amount of time sedentary and in LPA and less time in MVPA. Few children met the physical activity guidelines. Lower weight status, lower maternal education level and no family car were associated with meeting physical activity guidelines. Effective interventions and policies to increase physical activity among school-going children in Kampala, are urgently needed.

LMX1B rs10733682 Polymorphism Interacts with Macronutrients, Dietary Patterns on the Risk of Obesity in Han Chinese Girls

Previous studies have found that LMX1B rs10733682 polymorphism is associated with Body Mass Index (BMI) in European and American Indian adults. In this study, the association of rs10733682 polymorphism with obesity-related indicators, and its interaction with macronutrients and dietary patterns (DPs) were explored in Chinese children (n = 798). The rs10733682 polymorphism was genotyped by improved Multiple Ligase Detection Reaction (iMLDR). Four DPs were identified by factor analysis. The AA genotype had a higher incidence of overweight/obesity than GG+GA genotypes (P = 0.010) in girls (n = 398), but no difference in boys. The AA genotype in girls could interact with intake of energy, fat and carbohydrate, causing an increased triglyceride (TG), (P = 0.021, 0.003, 0.002, respectively), and also could interact with energy from protein, causing an elevated BMI (P = 0.023) and waist (P = 0.019). Girls inclining to the HED (high-energy density)-DP were associated with increased TG (P = 0.033), and girls inclining to the VEF (vegetables, eggs, and fishes based)-DP were associated with decreased total cholesterol (TC, P = 0.045) and decreased low density lipoprotein cholesterin (LDL, P = 0.016). The findings indicated that the AA genotype of rs10733682 and the HED-DP are potential risk factors of obesity in Chinese girls.

Cross-Sectional Associations of Physical Fitness Performance Level and Sleep Duration among Older Adults: Results from the National Physical Fitness Survey in Taiwan

Research on relationships between physical fitness and sleep duration among older adults is scarce, especially in Taiwanese representative samples of elderly people who undergo physical fitness measurements. This study aimed to determine the associations between physical fitness and short and long sleep durations among older adults in Taiwan. We conducted a cross-sectional study and reviewed data derived from the National Physical Fitness Survey in Taiwan. A total of 24,125 Taiwanese adults aged 65 years and older participated in this study between October 2014 and March 2015. Each individual's sleep duration was recorded with a standard questionnaire method. Sleep duration data were stratified into short (≤5 h), normal (6-7 h), and long (≥8 h) sleep duration groups. Physical fitness was assessed by five components: aerobic endurance (2 min step test), muscle strength and endurance (30 s arm curl and 30 s chair stand tests), flexibility (back scratch and chair sit-and-reach tests), body composition (body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)), and balance (one-leg stance with eye open and 8-foot up-and-go tests). To understand whether a dose-response relationship exists between physical fitness and short or long sleep duration, we analyzed four levels of performance on the basis of quartiles of physical fitness measurements by using logistic regression. The first quartile of physical fitness performance was the baseline level. The odds ratio (OR) for short sleep duration for the third quartile of BMI was 0.8031 times (95% CI, 0.7119-0.9061) lower than the baseline. For the fourth quartile of BMI, the OR was 0.8660 times (95% CI, 0.7653-0.9800) lower than the baseline. The adjusted OR for long sleep duration significantly decreased in the second, third, and fourth quartiles of the 30 s chair stand, back scratch, chair sit-and-reach test, one-leg stance with one eye open, and BMI. The adjusted OR was increased in the third and fourth quartiles of the 8-foot up-and-go and WHR. The results of the current study suggest that physical fitness performance may influence sleep duration as an associated factor, and the relationship is much stronger for long sleep duration than for short sleep duration.

Conceptual skills and verbal abilities were better in children aged six to seven years who were from more highly educated families and attended sports clubs

AIM

We explored the cognitive abilities, health behaviour and cardiorespiratory fitness of preschool Estonian children aged 6-7 and any association with parental education, attending sports clubs and gender.

METHODS

Data were obtained from 256 children recruited from 13 randomly chosen kindergartens in Tartu, Estonia. Cognitive abilities were assessed using the modified Boehm Test of Basic Concepts - Third Edition. Objective physical activity (PA) intensity and sedentary levels were measured over seven days by accelerometry. To assess cardiorespiratory fitness, we used the 20-m shuttle run from the PREFIT test battery. Parents reported their educational attainment, together with their child's sports club attendance, sleep duration and screen time.

RESULTS

Children from more highly educated families had significantly better test results for conceptual skills, verbal abilities and cardiorespiratory fitness. PA levels, cardiorespiratory fitness and perception and conceptual skills test results were better in children who attended sports clubs. Higher cardiorespiratory fitness level, shorter screen time and sleep duration were associated with better conceptual skills.

CONCLUSION

Conceptual skills and verbal abilities were better in the children of more highly educated families and if they attended sports clubs. Children's cognitive abilities may benefit from better cardiorespiratory fitness, reduced sedentary activity and less screen time.

Physical fitness and physical activity of 6-7-year-old children according to weight status and sports participation

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate physical fitness and physical activity (PA) of 6-7-year-old children just before entering school according to their sports club (SC) participation and weight status, and to examine possible associations of their body mass index, fat mass and fat-free mass with physical fitness and PA.

METHODS

A total of 256 preschoolers aged 6 to 7 years participated in the study. Physical fitness was assessed using PREFIT test battery and objective PA by 7 day accelerometry. Body composition was estimated using two skinfold thickness parameters. SC participation and parental data were assessed by questionnaires.

RESULTS

Children participating in SC had higher moderate-to-vigorous PA, vigorous PA and cardiorespiratory fitness than children not participating in SC. Overweight children had lower results in cardiorespiratory fitness and all weight-bearing fitness tests, and better results in handgrip strength test in comparison with normal weight children. Significant associations were found between body composition indices and physical fitness tests. PA level was associated with fat-free mass and physical fitness but not with fatness indices.

CONCLUSIONS

Weight-status and body composition together with PA level were associated with physical fitness level. The differences in physical fitness based more upon weight status than SC participation among 6-7-years old children.